Primetime Emmy Awards 2012: Best and worst

CaptionEmmy fever gets a little too hot

Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

The 90-degree-plus temperatures in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday were brutal on the red carpet outside the Nokia Theatre, with one attendee collapsing and having to be carried off in a wheelchair. Never one to let a semi-serious moment get turned into mindless entertainment blather, KABC-TV...

The 90-degree-plus temperatures in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday were brutal on the red carpet outside the Nokia Theatre, with one attendee collapsing and having to be carried off in a wheelchair. Never one to let a semi-serious moment get turned into mindless entertainment blather, KABC-TV... (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sunday evening's other Jimmy, Jimmy Fallon, wasn't hosting (he's an NBC guy), but he didn't do himself any favors with his red carpet jokes that weren't even worthy of an open mike night. Gags about Amanda Bynes' driving and Clint Eastwood and empty chairs smelled like stuff rejected from the...

Sunday evening's other Jimmy, Jimmy Fallon, wasn't hosting (he's an NBC guy), but he didn't do himself any favors with his red carpet jokes that weren't even worthy of an open mike night. Gags about Amanda Bynes' driving and Clint Eastwood and empty chairs smelled like stuff rejected from the... (Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)

During ABC's red carpet pre-show Sunday, a fan from the stands was selected to ask a star of his or her choice any question. What could have been an awkward disaster became a genuinely interesting moment (as far as red carpet moments go) when the fan asked Melissa McCarthy about her time...

During ABC's red carpet pre-show Sunday, a fan from the stands was selected to ask a star of his or her choice any question. What could have been an awkward disaster became a genuinely interesting moment (as far as red carpet moments go) when the fan asked Melissa McCarthy about her time... (Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images)

Rico Rodriguez and the rest of the underage cast of "Modern Family" all deserve their great success, but they've come to represent the worst of what child actors can be when it comes to their awards show exposure. Especially on the red carpet, where it's hard for even adults to look casual,...

Rico Rodriguez and the rest of the underage cast of "Modern Family" all deserve their great success, but they've come to represent the worst of what child actors can be when it comes to their awards show exposure. Especially on the red carpet, where it's hard for even adults to look casual,... (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel thankfully bypassed the tired awards show opening of having himself edited into scenes from the various nominated series and instead employed the aid of several nominated actresses for a short, semi-funny opening sketch set in the ladies room. Among the actresses lending...

Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel thankfully bypassed the tired awards show opening of having himself edited into scenes from the various nominated series and instead employed the aid of several nominated actresses for a short, semi-funny opening sketch set in the ladies room. Among the actresses lending... (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)